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HIOGRAFHICAL SKKTCH 



AiNiNE MONTGOMERY PEYTON 



A CONTRIBUTION 



;^VIS MEMORIAL VOLUME. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 



OF 



ANiNE MONTGOMERY PEYTON 



BY HEK SON 



J. L. PEYTON. 



" A contribvition to the Lewis memorial volume 
originated by the trustees and faculty of Eoanoke 
College, Salem, -Virginia, and to be published during 
the first Centennial year of the Eepublic of the 
United States of America." 



GUERNSEY : 

F. CLAEKE, PUBLISHEE, STATES AECADE, 

JULY 4xH, 1876. 



?P47 



p 



MEMOEIALS 

OF THE 

LEWIS FAMILY. 



Belle Fontaiiie,"(Ancieiitly Fort Lewis,) Augusta County, 
Yiro'inia. 



This pamplet is reprinted, from the Guernsey Magazine, in 
which periodical the memorials were iutroJuced by the 
following note : — 

Some months since, the trustees and faculty of Roanoke 
College, Salem, Virginia, decided to erect a hall, at an ex- 
pense of £10,000, for the Library, Museum, and public exer- 
cises, and to call it " Lewis Centennial Hall " in honor 
of General Andrew Lewis, one of the foremost mili- 
tary men of America, and the hero of the battle of Point 
Pleasant, which was fought and won against the Confederated 
Indian tribes by the Colonial forces of Virginia, on the 10th 
day of October, 1774. At the same time they decided to 
publish a work containing a history of the Lewis family, 
with a biographical sketch of General Lewis and of other 
eminent members of the family, and also an account of the 
ceremonies to take place on the 10th of October, 1876, when 
the remains of General Lewis are to be removed from their 
present resting-place and re-interred near the haU or in a 
crypt under it. 

Col. John Lewis Peyxon, a distinguished descendant 
on the maternal side of the Lewis family, his great 
grandfather, Col. William Lewis, having been a younger 
brother of General Lewis, has been invited by the 
authorities of Roanoke College, and has consented, to write 
these biographical sketches, &c., &c., and to edit the me- 
morial volume. From his MS. we are permitted to publish 
the article below, which, we are sure, our readers will peruse 
with pleasure and profit. 

It rarely falls to the lot of the biographer to be able to 
draw from life a more attractive character than that of the 
subject of the followiog sketch. — Ed. 



ANNE MONTGOMERY PEYTON. 



Amon.i;' the notiiwortby women of Vii'giuia duiing the 
early part of the preseut century, oixr comparatively 
unluown ami euth-ely unsung Southern heroines, was the 
subject of this sketch. Eemarkable for her practical 
ability anl efficiency, her graceful and accomplished taste, 
the extent and variety of her literary attainments, the 
unselfish generosity of her heart, and her unostentatious 
charities, no one was more highly esteemed while living. 
or was more mourned when, iu the midst of her bright and 
useful career, struck down by the hand of death. Nor 
is there one of those departed jMatroas — the peer- 
less women of Virginia, — whose memory is more cherished 
by those among whom she lived ; for, it was her peculiar 
good fortune to be at once the life and joy of lier family, 
the " bright particular star " of the society in which she 
moved, and the pride and ornament of the community. 

Anne Montgomery Peyton was born at the Sweet Springs, 
Monroe County, Virginia, in the year 1802. Her father, 
Major John Lewis, was a man of large fortune, having 
inherited this extensive and valuable estate from his 
father. Col. William Lewis, commonly called the " Civi- 
lizer of the border." Major Lewis was a distinguished 
officer of that branch of the military forces of the " Thir- 
teen United Colonies," styled the " Continental Hue," and 
served under Washington until the close of the revolu- 
tionary war. A little more than two years after the sur. 
render of the British Army at York-town, by Lord Corn- 
wallis, October 17tli — 19th, 1781, namely, in the winter of 
1783, when Washington relinquished the command of the 
army. Major Lewis returned to the Sweet Springs where 
he spent the rest of his life, improving his property and 
enjoying the society of his friends. He married, iu 1795, 
Mary Prestnn, the fourth daughter of Col. William Preston^ 
of Smithfield, County of Montgomery, and sister of the 
late James Pattou Preston, Governor of Virginia. She is 



reported to have beca a woman of great personal cliarms 
antl of uncommon vivacity anil intellect, and of varied 
accomplishments. As spirited as beautiful, she was oae of 
the true type of that Virginian character which has made 
itself known and telt thi'oughout the world. 

She died at au early age, leaving a large family of 
young children, and it devolved upon his mother, as being 
one of the oldest, to act the part of mother and sister 
towards them —a duty which she nobly performed, ever 
extending to them Christian care and true sympathy. The 
portals of Montgomery Hall were always open to receive 
them and her younger bi'others. In fact it became the 
home of her sisters, three of whom were subsequently, at 
different periods, married from it ; namely, Margaret Lynn, 
to Mr. Cochran, Sarah, to her cousin, Col. J. Lewis, of 
Kenawha, anl Polydora, to Mr. Gosse, of Albemarle. 
Her two younger brothers John Benjamin, and Thomas 
also lived with her several years while attending school in 
Staunton. 

Anne Lewis, the third child of Major John Lewis and 
Mary Preston, and according to contemporaneous accounts, 
the most favoured by nature of them all ; was entered in 
her thirteenth year at the school — a school in gi-eat repute 
at that day — of Mr. Crutchlield, a learned Englishman 
who had been educated in France. It was situated in the 
Falling Spring Valley near the Peytoua Cascades, Alleg- 
hany County. 

The reader will probably excuse a brief reference to this 
valley which is so remarkable for its scenic charms, the 
cascade being the most striking point, that one cannot 
pass through it without feeling the truth of Cowper's 
beautiful lines — " God made the Country and man made 
the Town." The variety, the perfection, and indeed every- 
thing about a lively country scene so eclipse the noise and 
bustle and turmoU of a large town that I have sometimes 
been so uncharitable as to think that those who did not 
love the country, could scarcely love their Maker ; but to 



indulge such a thought would be illiberal, decidedly wrong. 
And yet the country has many, many charms, peculiar to 
itself and of a peculiar character ; and although it is 
certain that a vicious mind will think of God nowhere, 
while a pious oue will behold him in everything, it never- 
theless cannot be doubted that there are natural tendencies 
in the bustle, parade, and business of large commercial 
towns, to turn away the soul from God ; while innumer- 
able objects are presented in the country which lead the mind 
of the reflective •' through Nature up to Nature's God." 

The general truth of these remarks has always been 
impressed on our mind when in the country, and more espe- 
cially when rambling during the summer through the 
enchanting regions of Western Virginia, almost every 
locality of which is illustrated by some wild legend of the 
border wars. 

In one of the loveliest spots of this picturesque land, 
Mr. Crutchfleld had wisely established his school — no doubt 
influenced in its choice by its central position in the 
State, its retired situation and the extreme healthfuluess 
of the climate. Amidst these scenes in the " sweet 
sequestered vale," Anne Lewis spent her early youth, 
making much progress in learning and acquiring a fund of 
valuable information. Studying with unexampled industry, 
she carried off the highest iJi'izes. But even in this, the 
school of highest grade at that pL'riod in Western Virginia, 
she was in a measure deprived of that thorough and liberal 
education which her ambition craved. And when she had 
completed the course and returned home it was with a 
painful consciousness on her part of how little she knew 
and how much she had yet to learn. 

She often spoke in after years in a lively and amusing 
way of her life at this remote seminary, and of how the 
scholai'S had to rough it; of what would now be styled 
then- hardships, but which did not seriously effect these 
light hearted girls. She alluded to her own life at this 
season of her early joys, as smooth and pleasant, and to the 



valley of the Falling Sj)iiDg as a kind of eartlily paradise. 
Her opening years here and at her home, at the Sweet 
Springs, were eminently happy and this snnuy morning 
hetokened the short, hut cloudless day that was coming. 

Concerning their life at Mr. Crutchfield's generally she 

said it was not uncomfortahle or unpleasant. His tahle 

was liherally supplied with whatever the country produced, 

such as heef, mutton, poultry, and now and again, with 

game and fish furnished hy the forests, and the mountain 

streams. Of foreign luxuries they knew little or nothing. 

Their coffee was generally roasted rye, or a mixture of 

rye and " Eio," and their evening drink was milk or 

Sassafras tea. "When they visited distant friends they 

rode on horse hack, or were crowded into Mr. Crutchfield's 

cariole — a kind of covered spring cart. 

In their intervals of toilsome lahour, and Mr. C. was far 
from allowing his pupils to neglect their studies ; they 
passed much of their time gathering wild flowers in the 
green fields or on the mountain sides, visiting from time to 
time the cottages of the hearty mountaineers, whose good 
wives always welcomed them with a glass of sweet milk, 
some new laid eggs, or delicious fruit. 

It must he remembered that all these hours of leisure 
were not given to enjoyment only, — hours so favourable to 
i mprovement were better employed. When they returned from 
the fields, their hands tinted with the rich purple and crim- 
son of the flowers they had gathered, it was not the blood 
stain of murdered time. On the contrary they were only 
s igns of the eagerness with which they pursued knowledge 
a s well as pleasure, in some department of natural history, 
for they were always accompanied in their out door excur- 
sions by a teacher. Trees were waving, flowers blooming, 
birds singing, and insects revelling around them — the very- 
pebbles in their pathway contained a history of the past 
within them ; the stream flowing by them had its finny 
tribes, most wonderfully adapted to their element, and 
these lighter hours were given to an examination, almost a 



8 

study, of tliese objects — animate and inanimate, as tliey 
came from the bands of our Creator. And it may be safely 
asserted that few but professional botanists were deeper 
versed at a little later period in the virtues of various herbs 
and plants, and how they might be made subservient to 
our uses, domestic and medicinal, than was Anne Lewis. 

It was during her sojourn at this school, while spending 
a holiday with her sister, Mrs. Massie, at the Valley Farm, 
that she first met John Howe Peyton, then in the zenith 
of his professional success and one of the handsomest and 
most accomplished men in Virginia. He had recently 
returned from active service with the army of 1812-15, of 
which he was one of the most daring and enterprising 
officers. She was at this time in the flush of opening 
womanhood, at the romantic age, and listened with wrapt 
attention and delight to his eloquent conversation, hia 
graphic and animated accounts of the camp and field. She 
was herself rich in what has been styled with poetic licence 
the fatal dower of beauty and was as clever as pretty. 
The result may be as easily imagined as told — they were 
speedily betrothed and shortly after her return to the 
paternal roof, though her beauty drew suitors for her hand 
from far and near, were married (1821.) 

It was a fortunate marriage and brought her all the 
happiness promised by a union with the chosen of her 
heart. Her home was thereafter in Staunton for a few 
years and subsequently till her death at Montgomery Hall. 
She thus returned to the original location of her great 
grandfather the " lord of the hills," to pass her life amidst 
the scenes rendered historic by his and his brave com- 
panions' long struggle with their savage enemies and almost 
within sight of the ruins of that Fort Lewis, under whose 
stoiit walls the infant colony grew, in time, strong 
enough to defy every foe. 

Civil life, as we know it, hardly existed in those days in 
Virginia ; all that was powerful, all that was honoured 
yr&B connected with war ; the ideas of the time more or less 



9 

insensibly took a military colour ; men's callings and neces- 
sity were in one way or other to light ; and to tight with 
effect needed combination, endurance, and practice, and the 
rude forts of the frontier were camps or barracks where 
there was continual drill and exercise, fixed times, appointed 
tasks, hard fare, incessant watchfulness, an absolute obe- 
dience to officers. Armed men, with sentinels posted to 
give warning of an enemy's approach, tilled the fields. Cat- 
tie were herded at night around the strong places ; pickets 
scoured the country day and night, and, in fact, all the 
precautions were taken which are necessary to intruders in 
an enemy's country. Many a dark tale of massacre has 
been connected with the settlement of West Augusta ; and 
the story of the Lewises and other pioneers, forms a roman- 
tic and memorable feature in the sad history of the times . 
Fort Lewis was the only place of security west of the Blue 
Ridge, and south of Winchester. It was a fortress of little 
architectural extent or pretension, but iu its associations 
one of the most popular and interesting of our historical 
places. 

In her new home she soon developed more fully 
the noble qualities which so much endeared her to a numer- 
ous circle of friends and the intellectual parts by which 
she was afterwards so widely known. There was no object 
of a humane and lau table kind to which she did not devote 
her time and attention, but particularly washer active phil- 
anthrophy displayed in connexion with the large slave 
population on her husband's estates. She made herself in- 
timately acquainted with the real condition of the negroes 
on these plantations and set on foot remedies for the 
evils necessarily incident to their condition. Her labours 
were attended with success, and not only the physical but 
the intellectual and moral condition of these unfortunate 
beings was improved and advanced. Her influence with 
every class of these poor blacks was great, particularly 
with those whose fierce natures led them into trouble. 
Before her noble and gentle womanhood, before her kind 



10 



miinuer, aiul btueatli her affectiug tones, the hardest hearts 
melted, the most savage creatures gave way. Those who 
had been exasperated by the cruel usage of overseers into 
defiance, those who had been hardened by injustice into a 
strong indiiference, those who had been plunged by neglect 
ns much as by temptation into crime, became astonished 
at her spmpathy, soothed by her consideration, their whole 
natures dissolved in tears and tenderness and they regarded 
her as a ministering angel. Few equalled her in the per- 
fection of her spiritual nature, and no one exceeded her in 
quiet achievements within her si)here, on behalf of her suf- 
fering fellow mortals, over evil, ignorance, harshness and 
oppression and over popular prejudice, and her life was a 
long triumph in the cause of virtue, mercy and love without 
ostentation or display. 

Hai)pily the prosperity of Virginia was in her day so 
exuberant, that there was little poverty of any kind. There 
are, however, always cases of want to be found in every 
community, and these she sought out and relieved when 
and where the world was not cognizant. In a word she 
offered bread to the famishing and hope to the desperate. 
Her tender sympathy extended even to the brute creation. 
She could not patiently endure to see dumb creatures 
Buffering from cruelty or want of proper care, and the very ani- 
mals instinctively regarded her as their thoughtful friend. 

She became the mother of ten children all of whom 
reached years of maturity, and with one exception married 
and have families of their own, and all now survive but 
her second daughter, Anne Montgomery, who died unmarried 
in 1870.* She was, as we shall see, a most careful mother 
and affectionate wife, looking up to her husband as a supe- 
rior being, and took upon herself the heavy burden of care 
in connection with the rearing and education of this 
numerous family, to which her husband could give little 
attention from the absorbing pursuit of his profession and 
the bverwhelming character of his engagements. 

It was truly in the domeptic sphere that she most shone, 
' See Note A. 



^:1 



11 

and her children owe so much to her teachings and example, 
to her maternal tenderness and training, that the recollec- 
tion of their days at the Hall is the most precious remem- 
brance they carry with them through life. 

Her mind was always active in devising means for the 
benefit of her children. Nor would she allow any personal 
inconvenience or discomfort to interfere with her plans for 
carrying them out. She often entered into their juvenile 
games and amusements with all the vivacity of her nature. 
Nor did it lessen the deference and respect they felt for her. 
She knew when to be little and when to be great. When 
to exercise her authority, how to enhance her influence, 
and the value of example in enforcing both. Thus obe- 
dience became so easy that her children soon combined 
the pleasure of anticipating her wishes with the duty of 
compliance. Of course in every family there are to be 
found wrong tempers, feverish ailments, and perverseness 
of disposition, and willing obedience cannot be, at all times 
and on all occasions, obtained however consistently autho- 
rity may he maintained. But as far as a child however 
helpless, ignorant, and inexperienced could he brought into 
habits of obedience by a judicious exercise of parental 
authority, without an approach to undue severity, it was 
accomplished by her tact and discretion. 

Some one has called the boy the " father of the man," 
but the mother is more especially the parent of the child. 
The very pulses of its life throb responsivcly with hers, 
from her heart it springs into being and her heart should 
be its natural shelter and resting place while life lasts. A 
Christain mother she was who made the well-being of her 
children, spiritual and physical next to her duty to God 
and her husband, the object of her most watchful attention, 
and whether in the nursery, the play or school rooms, or 
the household bestowed upon them the utmost care, 
instructing them at one time and romping with them at 
another. 

In their sports it was, indeed, her habit frequently to 



12 

join. Slie coiiBicltreci play not merely essential to & child's 
Lappincss, 1 ut to its physical moral and spiritual well 
being. She thucfore interested herself in the amusements 
of her chih^rtn ^ith as much zeal and enjoyment ap- 
parently as they themselves — thus at very little expense 
and trouMc to herself adding greatly to their pleasures. 
She would now and again pull the children's wagons around 
the nursery, make a flag for a little boat, or dress a doll 
in the style of our Eevohitiouary matrons from a few 
scraps of silk and calico. She studied the characters of 
her difierent children as they were developed in play and 
thus gained nn insight into their inner life which guided 
her as to thur future. Some children are naturally of a 
robust constitution and their play is characterized by 
noise and action ; others not so strong are of a more 
gentle and studious disposition, pursue their amusements 
in comparative quiet. She observed this and regulated 
her course accordingly for she considered it a sign of 
ill health if one of the brood sat silently and mopingly 
apart from the group ; and at once sought the cause of 
Buch an unnatural state of things and to remove it. In 
the merest trifles she exercised a wise judgment and 
considered nothing trivial which concerned the happiness 
of her children. For example, so minute and particular 
was she that she never allowed the children to play with 
one particular set of toys until they had lost all their 
interest and were cast aside. This, she asserted, taught 
them two bad habits — to wear out a pleasure threadbare, 
and reckless destruction. She did not interfere violently 
to deprive the children of them, but joining in 
their play for a few moments would suggest a change. 
With flushed cheeks and laughing eyes she would draw 
them into a lively romp or game of " puss in the corner," 
in order to get them away from a spot where they had 
been too long over kites, puzzles, or dolls dresses. 

Few families of children indeed had more cai'e bestowed 
npon them, and no one can fail to admire the good sense and 



13 

tact of a mother who with such arts contributed to the 
happiness of her little brood. Often did she with a box 
of paints, a pencil and some paper employ the children 
during a wet afteinoou, or in fine weather having a game 
of hoop or graces in the grounds. Considering play one of 
the first necessities oi a child's existence, she encouraged 
hers to play with all their hearts — but never to the neglect 
of graver studies. These were attended to in proper 
season. But when play time came they were free to 
enjoy themselves thoroughly, so that their fun did not 
run into mischief. Thus her children associated their 
mother with their pleasant memories of enjoyment and 
she never went amongst them that her presence was not 
hailed with joy. 

With their education strictly so speaking, she was 
equally particular, though her duties prevented her from 
conducting it herself. She saw however, that the person 
(Miss Lucy Stone) a native of Massachusetts and 
educated in Boston, to whose care they were for some years 
confided (and afterwards Miss Forneret) the daughter of a 
retired officer of the British Army and educated in Paris, 
was worthy of the charge. 

With their school tasks she was herself familiar and 
saw that their minds were not overtasked, and now and 
again cautioned Miss Stone to suit their lessons to their 
ages and capacities, saying " strengthen and instruct, do 
not tire the mind." 

Sometimes she questioned them herself to ascertain 
whether they understood their own lessons rather than 
learnt them by rote without taking in the meaning of them. 
Often during hours of recreation, she spoke of the means 
of acquiring information and said there were five eminent 
methods whereby the mind is improved in the knowledge of 
things, namely by observation, reading, instruction by 
lectures, conversation and thought or study. What was 
meant by these terms she fully explained, and lest iho 
might fatigue and create a distaste for learning by such 



u 

serious discotirse, would on occasions Tvitlnnach tact glide 
into lighter themes, and tell stories teaching valuahle 
lessons, through this medium, every story having a moral 
which the young people were left to draw from the 
incidents of the narrative. Information was thus conveyed 
to theiif minds without fatiguing them, so that to learn 
from her was a positive pleasure. She taught them also 
to write little stories by making pleasant suggestions to 
them. Never shall the writer forget his admiration of her 
talents and efficiency when she would at their request 
sometimes condescend to write one herself. It was sure 
to be eflective and set us thinking. Nor his gratitude for 
aid, when he was confronted with the task of answering 
his first letter. A few days after its receipt sitting down 
in the presence of his mother he commenced a reply. His 
ideas would not flow in orthodox channels, he could think 
of nothing to say that did not have reference to the farm 
and stable, and begged his mother to give him some 
assistance. "No" she answered, "do your best, I will 
then examine and correct it, or write something for you." 

After completing his note which was redolent as may 
be imagined of the farm and stable, he gave it to her. 
She laughed heartily at his first effort, but sweetened what 
he thought her irony by a little praise. It was not, however 
she said the kind of letter his aunt would expect or care 
to read. She then in a few moments, without taking her 
pen from the paper, dashed off a letter of sparkling 
diction and fascinating humour. Surprised, amazed 
indeed at her readiness and power of description, delight- 
ted at what appeared to him her wonderful success, proud 
of her as his mother and withal grateful for her assistance, 
he threw his arms round about her neck, covering her with 
kisses and exclaiming " Why Mamma you are indeed ft 
genius— a giant of the pen. I never will be able to write 
like that." 

His first guide and his earliest critic, he soon learned 
from her that afiection for literature which baa afforded 



Ifi 

bim so mnch Bolace in his chequered life. She availed 
herself of this occasion to impress npon him the advan- 
tages of aiming at perfection in every thing he undertook. 
The tenor of her remarks may be thus summarized ; 
unless aimed at we certainly would never attain perfection 
while frequent attempts would make it easy. She animad- 
verted upon idleness and indifference, remarking that in the 
comparatively unimportant matter of writing a letter a:? it 
was considered, we should give it our greatest care, that it 
might be as perfect in all its parts as we could make it. 
The subject should be expressed plainly and intelligibly, 
and in as elegant a style as we were capable of. 
Btfore writing a sentence we should examine it, that it 
might contain nothing vulgar or inelegant in thought or 
word ; that we should guard ourselves against attempts at 
wit, which might wound, or too much levity and familiarity 
which was foolish and impertinent. And seek to express 
ourselves with manly simplicity, free of all affectation. 
This was the usual style of Cicero's epistles and rendered 
them deeply interesting. No one could reach such excel- 
lence, without purity in the choice of words, justness of 
construction, joined with perspicuity of style. That in 
our letters we should not attempt what is called fine 
writing, but have them, like our conversation, unstudied 
and easy. 

In regard to the use of words she declared that there 
was nothing which made one so ridiculous as the use of 
big words. It was a mistake of the young and of many 
grown people too, to suppose that it was necessary to use 
big words to express big ideas. The simpler the dress of ft 
grand idea the better. This was illustrated in the Pealms, 
the book of Job, and the Prophecies. In the English 
language the most vigorous and expressive words are of 
one syllable and of Danish, Saxon, or Celtic origin. Our 
long words were principally from the Greek and Latin. 
Our curt no was from the Saxon and bo of ita antithesiB 
yes. Wise men were short talkers, and condensed a world 



16 

of meaning in a word, and instead of interlarding conver- 
sation with foreign words, stuck to English undefiled. In 
the present day people mistook inflation for eloquence and 
used long compound instead of brief and pithy nouns and 
verbs. All this was bad taste. Simplicity and clearneas 
were the sterling elements of conversation, of a speech, of 
a wholesome literature. 

She mentioned a very common error into which inexpe- 
rience led many young persons, that of addressing all 
individuals alike. Writers should guard against this habit 
and not use the same language to superiors, inferiors and 
equals, but address in one way the aged and in another the 
young — and so of the grave and facetious, &c. Thus at a 
very early age she imbued her children with correct senti- 
ments on points of politeness, of intellectual improvement 
and moral deportment. 

She particularly disliked extravagant, what she called 
" random talking," and early warned her children against 
exaggeration, quoting in this connection from her favourite 
work : — 

•'He that hath knowledge spareth his words, and even a 
fool when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise : and he 
that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." 

Her children were also earnestly admonished against 
evil speaking, as indicating a want of regard to the high 
and loving authority of God who has positively forbidden 
it, — " If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect 
man, and able to bridle the whole body " — such evil speak- 
ing denoted a want of brotherly love and charity, of 
humility in our hearts which would teach us that we are 
too vile ourselves to complain of others. 

In all of her teachings the Bible was the basis of all 
direct religious instruction, its facts, doctrines, histories — 
the law, the Gospel. She endeavoured not only to make it 
plain to the understanding and to impress it on the 
memory, but to bring it to bear on the conscience and the 
affections. They were taught to reverence the Sabbath- 



17 

day, to engage in daily prayer, not only for a blessing on 
their efforts generally, but very esp3cially for the " exceed- 
ing greatness of that mighty power," which, whatever 
means are used, can alone raise us from the death of sin 
to the life of righteousness. The Scriptures furnished she 
declared, many examples of the power of prayer. Nothing 
seemed to be too great, too hard, or too difficult for prayer 
to do. Prayer opened the Red Sea. Prayer brought water 
from the rock and bread from Heavju. Prayer made the 
Sun stand still. Prayer brought fire from the sky on 
Elijah's sacrifice. Prayer turned the counsel of Ahitho. 
phel into foolishness. Prayer overthrew the Army of 
Sennacherib. Prayer has healed the sick, raised the dead, 
procured the conversion of souls. Prayer, pains and faith 
can do anything. " Let me alone " is the remarkable 
saying of God to Moses, when Moses was about to inter- 
cede for the children of Israel. — Exo. xxxii. 10. 

So long as Abraham asked mercy for Sodom, the Lord 
went on giving. He never ceased to give till Abraham 
ceased to pray. 

It was her belief that there is no condition in life, no 
occupation or profession however unfavourable it may 
appear to the cultivation of religion, which precludes the 
possibility, or exempts us from the obligation, of acquiring 
those good dispositions and exercising those Christian 
virtues which the Gospel requires. Men of the world are 
apt to imagine that religion was not made for them ; that 
it was intended only for those who pass their days in obs- 
curity and solitude. The case of the Centurion in the 
Gospel is a direct, complete and satisfactory answer to 
this pretence and to all such pretences. And the case of 
this Centurion is not the only one of a Military man and 
man of the world who is celebrated in the Gospel for his 
piety and virtue. It was a Centurion who at the Crucifixion 
of our Saviour, gave that voluntary and honest testimony 
in his favour, " Truly this was the Son of God." Another 
who generously preserved the life of St. Paul when a pro- 



18 

position was made to destroy him after shipwreck on the 
Island of Melita, and it was a third to whom St. Peter was 
sent, hy the express appointment of God, to make him the 
first convert among the Gentiles. 

In this manner she sought to teach her children to jierse- 
vcre in the right direction in spite of all discouragements, 
hut not to expect harvest in seed time. 

She also endeavoured hetimes to instil in their minds 
prudence and practical knowledge, and repeated in this 
connection the signifieaut language of a motto which she 
had heen informed, hy a traveller, was to be seen over the 
door-way of a Chalet in the mountains of Switzerland : — a 
motto containing a volume of wordly wisdom — • 

" Speak little, speak truth, spend little, pay cash." 

In the household her presence was felt from the kitchen 
to the attic. She ordered all the domestic arrangements — 
neither handing over the management of her house to the 
servants, or her children to nurses and governesses. She 
superintended in a way to see personally that all was as it 
should be. Careful in these matters, she was equally soli, 
citous that her daughters should understand the proper 
method of regulating a household, and how to provide for 
the wants of a family. For this purpose she instructed 
them herself how to purchase, or select the different 
articles required for home consumption ; how to choose the 
various kinds of meat, fish and poultry, and then how 
properly to cook them. They were also instructed in the 
art of making tarts, puddings and even confectionary, and 
many a hapjiy evening has the writer spent with his sisterg 
and their young school friends at what the juveniles called 
a " toflfer-party." She said this kind of knowledge made 
them independent of ignorant servants, and was not detri- 
mental to the dignity of any lady, mother, or daughter^ 
She always sought to make them adepts in the science of 
good house wifery, as being the most useful and honorable 
knowledge for those whose destiny it is to become the 
mothers of families. 



19 

It may not be uninteresting to say a few words at this 
point as to the good uses to which she applied the know- 
ledge acquired at Mr. Crutchfield's school, of the virtues of 
various herbs and plants. A case of illness or an accident 
never occurred in the family, among either whites or 
blacks, numbering between 60 and 100 souls, that she was 
not early by the bed side of the unfortunate sufferer, and 
as soon as she understood the case, prompt to give relief 
with some simple, homely reme dy ; for she had specifics 
for all mortal maladies. If accidents occurred she had 
balsams, cataplasms, ointments, &c., &c., prepared from 
flowers and herbs for external application, and in cases of 
fevers, or other diseases, she prescribed her decoctions, 
draughts, electuaries, &c., and required these nostrums to 
be gulped down. From the hoarhound indigenous to our 
fields, she prepared a decoction for colds, from the wild 
cherry an extract for coughs, from tansey and the bark of 
the dogwood tree, a tonic, from the camomile, a tea of 
jeputed virtues, from the dandelion, the buds of the Balm 
of Gilead cures for dispepsia, &c. In a word she was pro- 
vided against all forms of disease with pills, plasters, 
powders, syrups, tinctures, elixirs— a whole catalogue of 
her own medicinal preparations. Of course the simple 
manner in which she extracted the virtues of these and 
other plants rendered them less potent and pobably less 
efficacious than the preparations of the professional 
chemist, but they were generally applied or taken with 
good eftect. 

The value of her practical knowledge in such matters 
can hardly be overestimated, when it is considered how 
"few and far between" were the medical men in those 
days in Virginia ; how difficult it was to procure drugs, or 
medicines and when they could be obtained, how often 
they were impaired in quality by adulterations. 

These brief facts illustrative of the efficient and prac- 
tical character of his excell ent mother, will, he trusts tend 
to direct the attention of others to the study of nature as 



ao 

a moet nsef ul, as well as inexbaustible Bonrce of pure and 
refined pleasure. 

" Not a plant, a leaf, a flower, but contains a folio 
Tolume. We may read, and read and read again and still 
find Eometliing new — Bometbing to please and something to 
interest, even in the noisome weed." 

Order, as may be supposed, reigned in her establisment 
and it wis delightful to see the children assembled at table 
together, with clothes neatly put on, hands and faces clean, 
hair properly arranged the table itself laid as if company 
was expected. The board at the hospitable Hall was, how- 
erer, rarely spread without being enlivened by the presence 
of guests. John Howe Peyton's public position no less 
than his social tastes made it a necessity as well as plea- 
sure for him to see a great deal of company. He enter- 
tained the Federal and State judiciary and their respective 
bars during term time; the Federal, State and County 
officials ; Congressional, Senatorial and Legislative repre- 
sentatives of both political parties ; the Rectors, Visitors, 
and Professors of our great seats of learning ; the Bishops 
and Clergy ; such officers of the Army and Navy as were 
from time to time in the county, and of the Militia ; and 
all strangers. The Hall was tluis the resort of eminent 
persons, male and female, and it may be truly asserted 
that all received there lessons in accomplishments. The 
wisest and most gifted men found beneath that refined 
roof something beyond woman's prerogative, the power to 
call forth, as with a fairy's wand, all that is most intel- 
lectual in their masculine natures; they found assistance 
and advice, as well as interest and sympathy. Eloquence, 
politics, philosophy were alteruatuly discussed ; and when 
these proved too severe, the lighter arts of conversation 
were successfully tried, varying to the humour of the 
moment. 

She was, in a word, the light and ornament of her 
home, presiding over it with dignity and grace, looking 
after her childreo and providing for the wants of a large 



21 

dependent population of negroeB ; and yet finding time to 

seek out and relieve the neceseitous in the community. 

TLough at this time many of his mother's good qualities 
were not sufficiently obvious to him, such as her practical 
household virtues, hecause he was still too young to under- 
stand how much good management and general good sense 
is required to conduct domestic aflairs properly; and 
fancied she took upon herself too much the duties of a 
housekeeper, he has had sufficient experience in after life 
to set the right value upon them, and to do her full and 
ample justice. 

In those days it was his great delight to see her in com- 
pany, displaying her wit and knowledge. She acquitted 
herself so well, never asking a silly question, or giving a 
foolish answer and sustained her part by her general abili- 
ties and knowledge so admirably in intellectual conversa- 
tion, and inspired such respectful attention from clever 
men that he keenly appreciated her accomplishments and 
was as proud of her talents and address, as he has since 
been of her character, which comprehending fully in 
maturer years he recognizes as a combination of all that 
ie noble and excellent. 

With this insight into her character and domestic life it 
is easy to understand that she was universally respected 
and drew all, more especially her children, to her by the 
cords of love, — that perfect confidence existed between her 
and them. They felt they could trust her with the full 
faith of innocent childhood, and never did she turn 
t hem away by coldness, sending back the warm current of 
their love chilled to its source ; never did she check the 
outpourings of their confidence by severity ; never did she 
turn them from her grieved and disappointed by want of 
sympathy. 

To the writer she was peculiarly afiectionate, kind and 
considerate. She never wearied of imparting good advice 
to him making opportunities to expatiate on certain vittues 
and vices. She particularly dwelt upon the necessity of 



indnstry, if a young man wislied to secure anything good, 
valuable, or worth having in this world. The substance of 
her teachings was that the world and all things around us, 
remind us of the necessity of labor, for though the earth, 
by the blessing of the Almighty produces food suflScient 
for man and the various animals that inhabit it ; yet, 
without labor, it would become a wilderness, covered with 
briars and thorns. But besides food and clothing our 
nature required that we should pi'ovide shelter against the 
inclemency of the weather ; these are continual calls upon 
UB for self-exertion which contributed as much to our 
happiness as to health. Moderate labor promoted the free 
circulation of the blood, and carried off disorders, which 
i ndolence would occasion ; the labouring man eats his 
bread with an appetite to which the idle and voluptuous 
are strangers ; his sleep is sweet, and bis rest undisturbed. 
As for industry it was rewarded in many ways : " The 
hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that gathereth in 
summer is wise, but be that sleepeth in harvest causeth 
shame."— Prov. x. 4. " He that would thrive, should rise 
by five ;" and as Poor Richard observes, '' Himself hold 
the plough or drive." 

" The difference between rising at five or seven in the 
course of 40 years, supposing a man to go to bed at the 
same time he otherwise would, amounts to 29,000 hours, 
or three years, 121 days and 16 hours, which will afford 8 
hou rs a day for exactly ten years : so that it is the same as 
if ten years were added to our lives, in which we command 
8 hours a day for our improvement in useful things." But 
besides lengthening, industry sweetens life ; the habitation 
of the industrious man is comfortable and clean, and his 
careful wife is truly his counterpart, always usefully em- 
ployed. Difficulties in this life, however, must be expected 
—they should not depress or discourage us, they were 
necessary to quicken us to exertion and disappeared before 
a determined resolution to accomplish our object. Even 
in Paradise man was not allowed to be idle : " The Lord 



23 

God put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to 
keep it." — Gen. ii. 15. And ever since the fall, as part of 
the curse entailed by sin and mortality, its consequencet 
the sentence of God has come forth — " In the sweat of thy 
face shalt tho u eat bread. — Gch. iii. 19. The very angels 
of Heaven were ministeiing Sjnrits who performed the 
Divine will cheerfully, actively, and diligently. A man's 
affairs run fast to ruin who allows his powers to lapse 
into indolence and sloth, and thus according to the wise 
man : " He becomcth poor that dealeth with a slack hand ; 
but the hand of the diligent maketh rich ;" and " seest 
thou a man diligent in business ; he shall stand before 
Kings : he shall not stand before mean men." 

This was the general direction of her thoughts when in 
graver moments she sought to prepare her children for the 
career of life. Having represented the means and the 
value of success in worldly matters lest the imagination 
might be unduly excited, she would suddenly remind them 
that there was a purer, brighter, nobler world than this : 
a world where there is no ignorance to darken, no error to 
mislead, no infirmities to lament, no enemies to assail, no 
cares to harass, no sickness to endure, no changes to expe- 
rience, but where all will be perfect bliss, unclouded lighti 
unspotted purity, immortal tranquillity and joy. 

It is easy to understand that their childhood was happy, 
and that all their recollections of it are associated with 
their mother, who ia her capacity as wife and mistress of 
the family was responsible, by reason of their father's 
repeated absences , for the general arrangement and combi- 
nation of the different elements of social and domestic 
comfort. She was the arbiter in all their trivial disputes, 
the soother of all jarring and discord, the explainer of all 
misunderstandings, and in short the main-spring of the 
machinery by which social and domestic happiness wag 
constantly supplied both in her household and within the 
circle she adorned. 

In the wider sphere, beyond the family circle, she was 



24 

known by acts of benevolence, rather than aa one endea- 
vouring to conform to the world. She did not strive at the 
same time to be a follower of the fashions and maxims of 
the world and a friend of Him who has declared " The 
friendship of the world is enmity with God : Whosoever 
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of 
God." 

Her piety was sincere and unostentatious. Her religion 
was that of love and good works. Her daily life was her 
most beautiful teaching and all of her children, at least 
the elder ones, carry into their lives the influence of the 
time spent in daily intercourse with her. 

Yet she did not neglect the cultivation of social happi- 
ness — only she knew where to draw the line between light 
and darkness — how to enter into and enjoy the blandish- 
ments of society without lapsi'-.g into worldliness of spirit. 
In conversation she was ready, animated, and interesting* 
and impressed all with her superiority. 

After her marriage she devoted every hoar she could 
appropriate from other engagements, for several years to a 
regnlar course of reading, and to the end of her life gave 
much time to books. She was familiar with the Classic 
authors of the Grecian and Roman worlds, and the choicest 
belonging to our English and American literature. From 
them she quoted freely both in her conversation and 
letters. She was particularly fond, among the poets, of 
Chaucer, Shakespeai-e, Milton, Dryden, Pope, Cowper, 
Gray, Burns, Wordsworth, Byrou and of those pleasing 
essayists Addison, Goldsmith, Dr. Johnson and Washing- 
ton Irving. Under the advice of her husband she read 
the histories of Robei'tson, Hume, Gibbon, Prescott and 
Bancroft and the novels of Defoe, Richardson, Fielding, 
Scott, Cooper and Irving. 

In public affairs she was well informed and took a lively 
interest. A supporter of the Old Whig party, few men, 
not in public life, were more thoroughly acquainted than 
herself with political affairs. Conservative in her feelings, 



25 

she strongly disaiiproved the ultra democratic opinions of 
" Old Hickory " and his successor in the Presidency 
Martin Van Biii-eu. Periodical elections for offices ; the 
ostracism of political opponents ; the extension of suf- 
frage to non-property holders ; the recurrent election at 
short intervals of the Judges by popular vote, she consi- 
dered one and all fatal innovations on our ancient laws. 
It was her belief that such measures would lead to degene- 
racy in our Statesman, drive from public life the better 
class of citizens, and let in demagogues, and with them 
introduce peculation, public plunder, and general corrup- 
tion and incompetency. And the recent (1374-75) dis- 
closures at Washington of bribery in connexion with the 
War-office under General Belknap, on; of the principal 
Secretary's of State, the trial of General Babcock, the Pre- 
sident's private Secretary, for complicity in the Whiskey 
frauds, the credit mobilier combinations or " rings," and 
other instances of official rottenness and corruption go a long 
way to establish her far seeing sagacity. A true lover of 
her country she exercised her power as a Christian mo- 
ther to inspire in the hearts of h or children, a profound 
and thrilling sense of patriotism. 

In every respect a remakable and attractive character, 
her history may be safely studied as a model and example. 
There is not a house in Virginia where the story of her 
domestic virtues were it properly told would not be wel- 
corned, and in which it would not do good. Had she not 
been encumbered with the cares of a large establishment 
and the rearing of a numerous progeny, to both of which 
she devoted herself with thorough self-abnegation; she 
would doubtless have turned her attention to the pursuit 
of literature and might have rivalled the fame of Hannah 
More, Maria Edgeworth, Caroline Burney, Frederics 
Bremer, Mrs. Stowe, or any of the distinguised writers 
of Europe and America, past and present. 

A true type she was of the mothers of our Colonial and 
Bevolationar; era, the mothers of those great and good 



26 

men, bred amidBt the trials of the border, who founded our 
Government upon the principles of liberty, equality, and 
fraternity. Yes, thes e words are not used at random, but 
deliberately, bee a use rightly understood they may be the 
motto of every Christian patriot. As the watchwords of a 
party whose sole end was self aggrandisement, these three 
words were prosti tuted to the vilest purposes. Under a flag 
inscribed with them the French people were saciificed, the 
streets of Paris deluged with blood, the Monarch raised to 
his high place by their own choice ; expelled and a rule of 
iron and blood introduced in the name of a republic. Real 
liberty was sacrificed for the name of it ; and the substance 
gave place to the s hadow. Yet there is a deep meaning in 
these three words. A Christian may see embodied in them 
some of the highest truths of his holy religion. Wrongly 
interpreted these words join anarchy and misrule hand and 
hand with d eath. There is a liberty which belongs to th« 
Christain man alone. It is not a liberty to sin, but a free- 
dom from it. A nd so equality is a Christian truth ; not that 
equality which would put the industrious and provident on a 
level with the idle and improvident, by involving all alike in 
hopeless poverty, but equality in the sight of Heaven, and 
fraternity is also a Christain truth. Acknowledging one 
God, our Father, in heaven how can we fail to recognize 
one another as bretheren ? Surely we are bound together 
by no common tie of fraternity — it is a common bond of 
union for all Chr istians. Such is Christian liberty, equa- 
lity and fraternity ; no vision of a brain intoxicated with 
licence, but sober Christian truths — and they embody no 
less political tru ths. We may be as earnest in their 
defence and as eager in carrying them into practice as 
were the misguided revolutionists in France, according to 
their interpretation of them. We may thus learn a lesson 
which those who first penned these words little thought of ; 
we shall become better Christians, and like our ancestorsi 
the truest friends of our country, for after all, " the best 
Christian is the best patriot." 



»7 

This 19 the picture, roughly sketched, of the character 
of that excellent woman attem pted to be brought out by 
brief forcible touches from personal impression of her 
leading^ features, rather than by car efuUy weighed and 
balanced summaries. She was " one of many," a model 
of the mothers of Virginia from whom have sprung that 
long list of illustrious sons from Washington and Lewis to 
Lee and Jackson, men who have shed imperishable glory 
upon their race and country, and won for Virginia the 
proud title of being the " Mother of States and States. 
men." And it is with no small satisfaction that the chil- 
dren of the "Ancient Dominion," can say amidst the 
present and prevalent corruption in American politics> 
recently brought to light at Washington City, in the cases 
of the President's private secretary, and of a Cabinet 
Minister ; that Southerners have had no lot or parcel 
in this national disgrace. 

If there is one moral quality for which in my opinion 
Virginia as "a nation" is distinguised, above all others it 
is, her integrity in her intercourse with her Sister 
States and the Federal Authorities, integrity in the admi- 
nistration of her internal Government and laws — integrity 
in the sound hearts and honourable feelings of her patrio- 
tic sons. 

In April 1847 a great sorrow fell upon that happy home 
of Montgomery Hall, by the death of J. H. Peyton, a man 
whom there was no one in hia public or private relations, 
who was more loved, mora honoured, or more mourned by 
those who knew him best. 

Shortly after this event her health failed and she died 
surrounded by her children July 1850. An event of which 
the writer has never lost the impression, and in connexion 
with which more than once have Gray's words recurred to 
memory, when, near the close of hia life the poet, in 
writing to a friend says :— " I had written to inform you 
that I had discovered a thing very little known, which is, 
that in one's whole life one can never have more than a 



28 

single mo ther. Yon may ihvak this obvions and what you 
call a trite observation. You are a green gosling ! I was 
at the same age very near as wise as you ; I never dis- 
covered this with full evidence — I mean till it was too late. 
It is thirteen years ago and seems but as yesterday ; and 
every day I live it sinks deejjer into my heart." 

So it is in the author's case, he never knew the extent 
of his misfortune until it was irreparable. And now when 
looking back upon her life, after a quarter of a century, it 
is with a sorrow chastened, and brought into subjection, 
but but not obliterated by time ! Taking a retrospect of 
her life t he writer can think of nothing with which her 
friends could reproach her, unless it be a disregard of her 
own health and comfort. 

So unselfish was she that it pleased her most to bestow 
upon other the best of every thing she could obtain. If her 
charities and sphere of usefuhiess were limit ed, it was no 
fault of hers — within her sphere she did her duty and her 
whole duty. All her actions sprang directly and solely from 
a sense of duty and was sustained by a healthy delight in 
its performance. Her life was a sincerely happy one. She 
was happy in her marriage nnd in her childeren, in her 
literary and domestic pursuits, and in the many friends 
who loved and valued her. She busied herself in philan- 
thropic and educational i-eforms, and was one of the warm- 
est advocates of the foundation of the Virginia Female 
Institute in Staunton, one of the most flourishing colleges 
the Southen States for the education of women. To this 
fund John Howe Peyton liberally subscribed, and he was 
President of the first Board of Trustees. 

Although of an impulsive nature, her religious feelings, 
like her social, were deep and permanent. Socially she 
was genial and companionable and a favourite with both 
old and young. With the young she was ever ready to talk 
and to encourage them in their plans and studies, and she 
always had sympathy, advice and counsel for old and 
young when in trouble. 



29 

Her ieoaperament was naturally somewhat quick. She 

was conscious of this infirmity and happily overcame it. 

Not giving herself credit how ever for the patience she had 

acquired, she has often with a womanly tear in her eye, 

regretted to the author that she was so easily excited and 

in the excitement so precipitate. She hcgged her children 

to he on their.guard against such an enemy to our peace, 

quoting, " he that is slow to anger is hetter than the 

mighty ; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a 

city." 

In our intercourse with society, she urged that it was 
o ur duty to curb any tendency to hastiness of temper, for 
a 3 3. gentleman cannot take an affront, she said, he should 
b e very cautious how he gives one : we should persevere in 
all that was right, and allow no weak desire of pleasing to 
t e mpt us from the paths of virtue. In this way she proved 
herself the sincerest of friends and the wisest of counsel- 
lo rs, a nd prepared her sons for " The court, the camp, the 
field, the grove." 

Such in general terms was this model matron, this 
" mother in Israel " who deserves more than this brief 
notice, especially from her children whom she loved so 
well. The limits of this volume,* however, will not admit 
of a fuller narrative. This simple outline of her character 
and career, it is hoped, may not be considered unworthy of 
perusal. Gentle, aflectionate and lenient, she was beloved 
by all who knew her. Happy in herself, she difiused hap- 
piness not only through the immediate circle which she, 
like a star illumined, but warming with a biilliance ag 
efiect ive as beautiful all within her range. 

Her understanding was good as her heart, and few 
human beigns ever lived blest with a more cheerful dispo- 
sition, a more generous spirit or a tenderer heart. 

* Memorials of the Lewis family. 



DESCENDANTS 

OF 

ANNE MONTGOMERY PEYTON. 



Anne Montgomery Peyton married in 1821, John Howe 
Peyton, ftnd left issue. 

I. John Lewis Peyton, Foreign Agent of the State of 
North Carolina, 1861—1865, author of " The American 
Crisis," &e., Sic, bom 1824, who married Henrietta Eliza 
Clarke Washington of Vernon, near Kingston, Lenoir 
County, North Carolina, and has issue one son. 

I. Lawrence Washington Howe Peyton. 

II. Yelverton Howe Peyton, unmarried, bom 18S8. 

in. Susan Madison, who married Colonel John B. 
Baldwin, Col .-Commandant of the 52nd Virginia regiment 
during the Civil war and member of the confederate con- 
gress. 

IV. Anne Montgomery died in 1870, unm. 

V. Mary Preston, who married Robert Asher Gray of 
Hill-top, near Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia, 
and has issue : — 

I. Baldwin, II. Peyton, III. Preston, IV. Susan, 
V. Isabella. 

VI. Lucy Gamett, who married John Newton Hendren, 
of Selma, near Staunton, Virginia ; Treasurer of the 
Confederate States of America during the Civil war, and, 
in 1876, chairman of the Augusta County Quarter Sessions, 
and has issue : — 

I. Samuel Rivers, II. Anne Montgomery, III. Lucy 
Peyton. 

VII. Margaret Lynn, who married George Moffet 
Cochran, jun., a lawyer of Staunton, Virginia, and has 
iesue :— 

I. George, II. Baldwin, III. Susan. 



31 

VIII. Elizabeth Trent, who married William Boys 
Telfair, a lawyer of Wilmington, Clinton County, Ohio, and 
has isene : — 

I. William Boys, II. Baldwin, III. Snsan. 

IX. Virginia Frances, who married Colonel Jos. F. 
Kent, Commandant of the — Virginia regiment during the 
Civil war, of Wythe County, Virginia, and has issue : — 

I. Joseph Francis. 

X. Cornelia, who married Thomas Brown, M.D. of 
Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia, who at his death 
in 1874, left issue : — 

I. Baldwin, II. Peyton. 



ANNE LEWIS 
NEE MONTGOMERY. 



The character of Anne Montgomery, the wife of Col. 
William Lewis, the "civilizer of'the border," and the Grand 
mother of Anne Montgomery Peyton may be diaeovered 
from the folio wing extract from Howe's history of Yirginiat 
head of Augusta county : — 

" When during the American Bevolntionary war of 1776, 
1783, the Br itish force under Colonel Tarleton, drove the 
Virginia Leg islature from Charlottesville, where it was 
temporarily holding its sessions, across the Blue ridge 
mountains to Staunton, the stillness of the Sabbath eve 
was broken in the latter town by the beat of dram, and 
volunteers were called for to oppose the progress of the 
Boyal troops across the monntains at Bockfisb gall. The 
elder sons of Col. William Lewis, who then resided at For| 
Lewis, (his father, John Lewis having died in 1762) namely, 
John and Thomas were absent vritb the northern army 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 444 914 9 



32 

under Washington. Three sons, howerer, were at home 
whose ages were respectively, seventeen, fifteen, and thir- 
teen years. Col. Lewis their father was prostrated by an 
attack of bilious fever, but his wife, Anne Montgomery of 
Delaware, and a relation of the distinguished General 
Richard Montgomery,* with the firmness of a Roman 
matron, called her three boys to her and bade them fly to 
the defence of their native land. 

" Qo my children," said she, "I spare not my youngest, 
my fair haired boy, the comfort of my declining years, I de. 
vote you all to my country. Keejp hack the foot of the invader 
from the soil ef Augusta, or see my face no more.'^ 

When this incident was retailed to Washington, shortly 
after its oecurence, when he was encamped in the snows of 
New York, defending that colony, he enthusiastically 
exclaimed : — 

" Leave me but a banner to plant upon the mountains of 
West Augusta, and I will rally around me the man who will 
lift our bleeding country from the dust, and set her free." 



ANECDOTE. 



In further illustration of the Roman virtue and valor of 
my heroic great grandmother the following anecdote, which 
I have often heard related in Virginia, is given : — When the 
Executive officers and the Legislature fled before Tarleton 
from Charlottesville to Staunton, Juu.', 1781, His Excellency 
the Governor stopped at Fort Lewis. During dinner the 
Governor expressed some uneasiness lest Tarleton might 
Bwoop down upon and take them captive. 

Mrs. Lewis, who was at the head of the table, said to him : 
" Do not allow yourself to be disturbed by such thoughts. 
I have sent my three boys to Rockfish Gap, and Col. 
Tarleton will never cross the mountains except as a 
prisoner or a corpse." J. L. P. 

* See the Guernsey Magazine for July, 1876, for an 
account of the death of General Montgomery at Quebec. 



»S!!,r°'= CONGRESS 



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014 444 9149 



